M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

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steve1973
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M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:34 pm

Well, this will be another chapter in my halftrack restoration. I left off two years ago with rebuilding the entire rear of the halftrack from the B pillars back down to the frame. I rebuilt the rear drive axle, installed a original rear floor, had made new track armor and installed new tracks. All this just in time for the MVPA convention in 2013. This last summer, 2014, I put some 200 miles on my track ending at Don's house for his yearly Camp Gleason. Just prior to all this I blew a head gasket. While changing that the cylinders were inspected and were in rough shape with pitting where the engine sat for many years. My mechanic adjusted the timing and it started easier but ran rough driving. Afer the event he came out to Don's to look at both of our tracks as his was running rough also. we put new plugs in mine and he re-adjusted the timing. It was then he gave me the bad news. I have a low end rod knock. That was it so me. Don trailered my track back to the shop awaiting a new engine.

So, the game plan is to remove the front armor, drop the transmission and transfer case, pull the engine for rebuild, repair radiator and radiator armor and put everything back together. If time allows I will also pull the cab/cowling as an assembly for rebuild, sand blast and paint everything and have it ready for the 2016 convention in California if not Tower Park first.

So on Monday, with the help of Don, the hood, fenders and front armor came off. I think I busted every knuckle I have. All I can say is I love my air tools and air chisle to split nuts. :mrgreen: Here are som photos of my progress so far.

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Upon further inspection I found several items needing replacing. They are:

Driver's side radiator support. Not sure if there is a difference between left and right. Mine is broke.

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Control rod to open and close the shutters along with turnbucle in cab.

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Upper radiator armor brace. I will have to verify wich side and will get a photo. This looks to be a cast piece and has a raised mount for the X-brace.

That's all for this report.

Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)


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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Wed Feb 04, 2015 7:03 pm

I finished disassembling the front nose section. The broken brace I need is for the driver's side. See photo below. I also rummaged through one of my parts bin and found a control louver rod so that is one item off my list.

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So, I need one of the braces above and a radiator side rod support. any help is greatly appreciated.

Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Sun Mar 01, 2015 11:12 am

Made a little more progress since I last posted. I removed all three drive lines, removed the PTO, removed most of the front floor boards and the lower cross brace under the transmission. I hope to remove the radiator and transmission tomorrow, I still need to remove the exhaust first. Here are some new photos.

The one smart thing I did this time was to remove the steering wheel for more room. Sure is nice having the right tool for the job. I got the puller from Saturn Surplus.
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Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by Tapper02 » Sun Mar 01, 2015 12:10 pm

Steve,
The black under where the fenders were…did someone spray an undercoat or is it just black paint? Did "off the line" tracks have any kind of undercoating on them or were they just painted?

-Tom
Last edited by Tapper02 on Sun Mar 01, 2015 12:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1944 Autocar M3A1 Halftrack
1944 Schelm Bros. M10 Ammunition Trailer

MVPA # 30507

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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Sun Mar 01, 2015 12:24 pm

Tom,
I think during rebuilt they may have used black paint in some areas but I'm no expert. I will take a closer look tomorrow.

Steve Jr.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Tue Mar 31, 2015 7:44 pm

I'm making slow progress on my track. I got the winch off today and removed the rest of the floor plates and supports. I'm having trouble seperating the tailpipe form the muffler. That is the only thing holding me up from removing the transmission. I'm hoping to have the transmission out by Friday. Photos below.

Steve A.

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1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

steve1973
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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Wed Apr 08, 2015 1:09 am

I made some big progress on Monday with the help of Don. We removed the front armor/cowling, transmission and engine. The halftrack looks kind of funny with only the rear armor on it. Once I get back from Tower Park I will finish stripping the frame getting it ready to clean and paint. I will most likely remove the front axle as I have a broken leaf spring to replace and it will be easier to clean.

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Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Wed Jul 22, 2015 4:38 am

It's been two long months since I last worked on my track. Monday I put 12 hours in at my shop and with help from Don and my mechanic Matt I got a lot done. Thanks guys. First, finish stripping the front half of the frame. The front axle was removed along with the springs and spring hangers. There where some other brackes and brake fittings that were also removed. I also put a temporary pintle on the front bumper. I made a bar wit D rings on both ends so that I can move my track in and out of my shop with my truck. I made two videos on Youtube in the past loading two halftracks on a flatbed truck using same method.

Here are the videos

https://youtu.be/PxAGHzSOQz8

https://youtu.be/VRtZfI443P8

Photos...

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The second haf of the day was spent tearing down not one but two motors. The first was my spare motor that I purchased from my mechanic some years ago and the second came from my track. This took the rest of the evening and wrapped things up at 8 PM just in time for me to go to work. What a day. We got a lot done. Now for some cleaning.

Engines before

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Backup engine after

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My engine after

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Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

steve1973
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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Mon Oct 19, 2015 4:58 pm

Now that summer is over I can get back to work on my halftrack. progress has been slow. I still need to clean the frame but the front axle and all the front suspension components have been cleaned. Some parts have been painted and re installed. I delivered my engine to my mechanic, Matt, so he can start on the rebuild.

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The block will be bored out .040 over while the crank will be .010 under on the rod and main bearings. The cam will remain standard. All the parts have been ordered to rebuild both engines. I sent out the shocks, carburetor and fuel pump for rebuild and just got those back today. They look great.

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More to come.

Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

Phil H
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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by Phil H » Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:07 pm

WOW, great work. Phil H
1940 VC1 Dodge
1941 WC6 Dodge
1941 WC11 Dodge
1941 WC22 Dodge
1941 WC26 Dodge
1943 WC56 Dodge
1942 Nash-Kelvinator trailer
1941 GP Ford 9066
1942 M3A1 Halftrack

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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Thu Nov 05, 2015 5:39 pm

It was like early Christmas this week. I got all the parts in to rebuild both engines and my wiring harness from Vintage wiring of Main.

Rebuilt shocks.

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Engine parts for the second engine. Parts for the first engine are already at the re builders.

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Misc. halftrack parts.

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Wiring harness from Vintage Wiring of Maine $1500.

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Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Sun Nov 15, 2015 4:31 pm

I got some more grunt work done over the past two weeks. I finally was able to get my track pulled out of the shop for pressure washing. I spent a good three hours getting as much grease and dirt off the frame. I got the track back in just before the rain started.

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This weekend I spent a few days with Bud going over some halftrack stuff and to deliver my exhaust manifold to get repaired. one of the ends was cracked bad. I found a place in Portland, Oregon that does this kind of repair. They recommended that due to the age of the exhaust manifold that I should have it ceramic coated. This will prevent future cracks and strengthen the manifold. the other big plus is that it will retain 50-60% of the heat. This may help in the vapor lock problems.

I made it back from my trip last night so today I spent cleaning the frame with wire wheels, 3M sanding discs and my grinder with sanding discs on it. What a mess it makes! ;D Here are the results so far.

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Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

johne504
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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by johne504 » Sat Dec 12, 2015 7:47 am

Looks great Steve. I need to rebuild my engine some day also...
45 dukw
41 cckw closed cab cargo
45 cckw open cab cargo
44 cckw open cab leroi
43 weasel
41 ben hur trailer
45 ben hur trailer
43 M-6 bomb truck
45 M-6 bomb truck
mark III bomb/torpedo trailer
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66 CJ-6
mark 5 bomb trailer

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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Mon Jan 25, 2016 3:06 pm

Not much new going on. I've been trying to get over a cold that just wont quit. I did some cleaning today and decided to un-crate my NOS radiator. I'm sure glat I got one of these when they were still available. ;D

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Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)

steve1973
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Re: M2A1 Front End and Engine Rebuild

Post by steve1973 » Fri May 20, 2016 12:12 am

Not much new to report. I've been busy with other things lately. Here is what's new with my project. Frame is painted. I still need to get some other small parts painted before the engine can go back in. The engine is looking great. I had a small hang up when I found out I hade the wrong bearings for the rods and crank. I had to order new bearings and a harmonic balancer. Thanks for the parts Gary. I did find out the NOS radiator is French. Here is the brass name tag on the radiator.

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Here are some engine photos.

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The exhaust manifold had a crack that was professionally repaired the ceramic coated. this will reduce heat loss and help prevent any future cracks.

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That's all I have for now.

Steve A.
1941 White M2A1 (90% restored)
1945 M10 ammo trailer (restored)


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